Apparatus for handling liquids



Dec. 11, 1951 J. R. MILLER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 17, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l SmQ INVENTOR.

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Dec. 11, 1951 J. R. MILLER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1946 m m m m t]5 Zn R Miller BY Dec. 11, 1951 J. R. MILLER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING uquws 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 17, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 11, 1951 APPARATUSv FOR HAN DLINGv LIQUIDS John R. Miller, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park; Mieh.,.a

corporation of Delaware ApplicationOctober 17, 1946', Serial No. 703,862

11 Claims.- (Cl. 315-11);

This invention relates to an apparatus for producin electrical discharges in contained bodies of liquids for the purpose of increasing the pressures within the liquids. More specifically, it relates to the use of such an apparatus for injecting fuel in an engine.

An object of the present invention is to provide improvements in a device for creating, an electrical dischargebetween spaced electrodes in a liquid such as a fuel, whereby the production of the electrical discharge is facilitated. According to the present invention, appropriate means are provided between the electrodes for insuring the creation of an electrical discharge thereacross. The interposed means facilitates the electrical discharge through an initiation procedure involving the creation of minor electrical discharges across the smaller spaces between the electrodes and the interposed means.

A further object is to associate the aforesaid spaced electrodes and interposed means facilitating electrical discharge, with an engine and a valve leading from a passage where the electrodes are positioned, whereby fuel is injected into the engine.

Another object is the use of the aforesaid spaced electrodes and interposed means facilitating electrical discharge, with a system comprising a closed path for fuel and pumping means advancing the fuel about the closedpath, whereby the passage containing the electrodes and leading from the path to an engine is appropriately cleansed of any undesirable products of the fuel produced by the electrical discharge such as should not be injected in the engine.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through an engine showing the novelfuel injection apparatus of the present invention:

Fig. 2. is a diagrammatic view of parts of the.

Figs. 6 and 7' are an end'view and a sectional. .view, respectively, of a second modified form of unit;

Figs. 8- and9 are an end view. and asectional viewrrespectively, of a third modified form of unit; and

sleeve 35 suitably mounted. in the head l6.

Fig. 10 shows a modified form of electrical system used with the injection apparatus of the present invention.

As seen in Fig. l the engine includes a cylinder block H1 in which is formed a cylinder The piston I2 is slidably mounted in the cylinder A spark plug l3 extends through one side of the cylinder Wall. Passages l4 and 5 are formed in the block for circulation of a cooling fluid. A head I6 is suitably attached to the block I5 and has passages |l, I8, I9, and 20 formed therein for circulation of the COOIing fluid. An air intake passage 2| is formed in the head I6, and an air intake manifold 22 is attached to the head with the passage 23 formed therein communicating with the passage 2| in the head. An exhaust passage 24 is formed in the head It, and an exhaust manifold 25 is attached to the head with a passage 25 therein in communication with the passage 24. At the top of the cylinder l I a seat 27 is formed, which is engaged by an inlet valve 23 opening and closing the air intake- The inlet valve 28 is slidable in a passage 2|. sleeve 29 suitably mounted in the head IS. A coil spring 30 acting between a recess formed in the top of the head l6 and a collar 3| on the valve 28 acts tomaintain the valve againstthe seat 21. The end of the valve In is engaged by a cam 32 secured to ashaft 33. A seat 33 is formed in the end of. the exhaust passage. 24 adjacent,- the end of the cylinder II. An exhaust valve 34 engages the seat and: is slidable in a. A coil spring 36 acting between a recess formed in the head l6 and acollar 3'! attached to the-valve 34 urges the valve 34 against the seat33 The spring 43 is held on the valve 45 by means of a pair of nuts 49, the coil spring. acting between the nuts and a shoulder 56 formed in the bore in the nozzle sleeve 4|. The enlarged portion 46 on the sleeve 4| limits the inward adjustment of the sleeve in the cylinder wall by engaging the cylinder wall. A- threaded extension on the nozzle sleeve 4| connects the nozzle sleeve with a fibre block 54-. A through passage 55 is formed in the block 54. A side passage 56 isalso formed in-the block' and intersectsthe through: passagev 55- at a central region thereof, the side passage 56 bein in communication with the enlarged portion 4! of the nozzle sleeve bore. As will contribute toward the provision of a free discharge passage for block 54, a smooth bore fitting 56 may be threaded straight into the upper end of the through passage 55- and receives the flared end of a tube 5'1. A fitting 58 clamps the flared end of the tube 51 on the fitting 56. The tube 51 leads, as may be observed, directly and unobstructed to a fuel tank 59. A fittin 99 is threaded in the lower end of the through passage 55 and the fiared end of a tube 6| is clamped in the fitting 99 by a fitting 62. The tube 6| extends to the discharge side of a pump 63. A tube 99 extends from the fuel supply tank 58 to the intake side of the pump 53.

An electrical discharge unit 64 is threaded into the block 55 as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the unit. The unit comprises a threaded tubular section 55, by which threaded engagement of the unit fi l with the block 54 is effected.

Within the tubular section 55 is a mass of insulatin material 99, in which are embedded a plurality of plate-like or strip-like conductive inserts 61 in parallel spaced relation. The inner ends of the inserts 6'? project beyond the insulating mass 66, and the outer ends of the two outer inserts 61 are bent so that the spacin between the inserts is increased at this region. A pair of plate-like or strip-like electrodes 68 and 69 are positioned in the insulating mass on the outer sides of the inserts 97 in parallel spaced relation thereto. Portions of the electrodes 98 and 69 near the outer side of the insulating mass 65 are bent so as to diverge and present end connecting portions 19 and ll in widely spaced relation. These portions 19 and H are appropriately connected as shown to conductors 12 and i3.

The electrodes 58 and B9 and the conductors i2 and 13 are shown in a complete electrical circuit for a four-cylinder engine in Fig. 2. There are four sets of electrodes 68 and 69, one for each of the four cylinders. Each set of electrodes is shown within a box designated by an engine-cylinder number. An impedance M, which may include inductance, is connected across each set of electrodes 68 and 99. Each electrode 73 is connected through the associate conductor 69 with a ground 15. .Each electrode 68 is connected by the associated conductor '12 and an electrical connector T6 with an anode ll of a gas-filled rectifier 18 of the cold-cathode type. Each rectifier has a cathode 79 containin a pool of mercury 89 and an igniter rod 8| dipping into the mercury. Each cathode I9 is connected by a line 82 with the negative side of a D. C. generator 83 having a field B4 controlled by a variable resistance 85. The positive side of the generator is connected to a ground 85. The igniter rod 81 of each rectifier 19 is connected by a line 81 containing an impedance 88 with a connection point 89 from which a line 99 leads to one of a plurality of contacts 9| of a distributor 92 having a rotating arm 93. The distributor arm 93 is connected with a ground 94, and a capacitor 95 is connected between the ground 94 and the negative side of the generator 89.

A line 96 leads from each connection point 89 to the primary side of a powdered iron core transformer 91, which is connected by a line 98 to the line 82 at a connection point 99. The secondary side of the transformer 91 is connected at one end to a ground lfllland at the other end to the spark 4 plug l3 for cylinder No. I, which is in turn connected to a ground IUI.

In Fig. 2 the distributor arm 93 is shown to be passing over the contact 9| for the spark plug l3 of engine cylinder No. I, and for set of electrodes 68 and 69 associated with the spark plug engine cylinder No. 3 (the next in firing order after cylinder No. I) which electrodes are connected by the rectifier l8, conductor 3?, and impedance 88 with the spark plug is for engine cylinder No. I. At each contact 9! the numeral not in parenthesis indicates the number of the engine cylinder for the spark plug connected with the contact, and the numeral in parenthesis, the number of engine cylinders for the set of electrodes connected with the contact.

-' At the instant the distributor arm 93 passes over the contact 91, as shown in Fig. 2, a portion of the energy stored in the capacitor 95 is discharged in the spark plug l3 for cylinder No. I, and current flows through line 81 and from the ignitor rod 8| into the mercury pool 39 causing ionization of the mercury, which results in current flow between anode TI and cathode :9, which establishes a sufficient difference in potential between electrodes 68 and 69 to cause an electrical discharge therebetween, derived from the balance of the energy stored in the capacitor 95. This electrical discharge acts on the supply of fuel passing continuously from the fuel supply tank 59 through the conduit 63, the pump 63, the conduit 6|, the passage 55 in the fibre block 54, and the conduit 5'! back to the fuel supply tank 59. The action of the electrical discharge is, perhaps because of a partial cracking thereof into gaseous or other products, to increase the pressure of the fuel very considerably.

If the coil spring 48 causing the nozzle valve 44 to hold the nozzle sleeve 4| closed is appropriately regulated, the increased pressure, constrained locally by inherent fiuid inertia acting on an increment of relatively unresistin fuel will be sufficient to make the nozzle valve open the valve sleeve and discharge fiuid through the nozzle into cylindervNo. 3. The spacing between the electrode tips 68 and 69 and the rate of discharge across these electrodes as determined by the adjustment of the field resistance determines the amount of fuel discharged, probably by governing the duration of increase in pressure of the liquid fuel or the magnitude of the increase in pressure. The evanescent increase in pressure lasts only long enough for the required injection of fuel through the nozzle 40 into the engine cylinder. v A great portion of any gaseous products formed by the electrical discharge are injected into the engine cylinder with great advantage for these gaseous products are very satisfactory as a fuel. The continuous circulation of the fuel from the supply tank through the pump and through the block 5 1 and back to the supply tank causes any gaseous products not injected into the engine cylinder and solid residue to be carried ofi through the conduit 51 and thereby scavenges the space between the electrodes for conditionin for the next electrical discharge.

The electrical discharge between the electrodes 68 and 69 is initiated and facilitated by the ends of the members 6! projecting from the mass of insulating material 66 between the projecting ends of electrodes 69 and 69. These are small electrical discharges, for example, from electrode 68 to the adjacent member El, from one member 61 to another, and finally from the last member,

t 61 to. the electrode 69. This small discharge from electrode to member, from member to member,

and from member to electrode, make possiblethe from approaching too low a value during firing of the rectifier I8. Similarly the impedance of the transformer 97 prevents the potential applied across the rectifier I8 from approaching too low a value during firing of the spark plug IS. The impedance 88 should be high enough so as to pass just enough current to cause the igniter rod 8| to make the rectifier I8 conductive. The current flowing through the igniter rod is small in comparison with the current passing between anode I1 and cathode 2'9.

The purpose of the impedance is to prevent the cathode 79 and anode TI of the rectifier "I3 0 from approaching the same potential between discharges across the electrode tips 68 and 69 and thus to prevent failure of the rectifier to conduct when fired by the igniter rod 8|, because of insufiicient diiference of potential between anode and cathode. The impedance I4 should conduct as little current as possible during electrical discharge between the electrodes 68 and 69, thus insuring a maximum current flow across the electrode tips during discharge.

Let it be assumed that the engine of which one cylinder and its associated parts are shown in Fig. 1 has four cylinders, and that their firing order is 13--2-4 as indicated by the row of spark plugs I3 illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3. This firing order for the spark plugs is insured by the distributor 92, the contacts 9i thereof being connected with the appropriate spark plugs. The numeral 1, 2, 3, or l associated with each contact 9| and not in parenthesis designates the contact for the spark plug of the cylinder of that numeral, the spark plug itself carrying the same numeral. The numeral 1, 2, 3, or 4 in parenthesis at each contact 9| designates the contact for the set of electrodes 68 and 69 for the cylinder of that numeral, the box surroundin the set of electrodes carrying thesame numeral.

As previously stated, spark plug No. I is fired at the same time as the electrical discharge is effected in the No. 3 fuel injection discharger. Discharge of the No. 3 apparatus produces injection of fuel in the No. 3 cylinder and thereafter the No. 3 spark plug is fired. At this time, as indicated by Fig. 3, the No. 2 fuel injection discharger is being fired and causes the injection of fuel in No. 2 cylinder. Thereafter the No. 2 spark plug fires and at this time the No. 4 fuel injector operates. Thereafter the No. spark plug fires and at this time the No. I fuel injector operates. Then the cycle is repeated. The fuel injection system of the present invention has been shown as applied to an engine. of the type in which ignition is eifected by spark plugs. The present fuel injection system is of great advantage when employed: with spark. plugignition because. the electrical systems of. the two may be combined and common parts maybeused, for example, the. distributor and the magneto. However, it is. to be understood that a fuel injection system of. the present invention is not limited to use with engines having spark plug ignition, but may be just as well applied to engines, for example, of the diesel type having compressionignition. The invention may'also be applied to the injection. of fuel in, an engine manifold. It is also to be stated at this point that the present invention is notv limited in its use. to fuel injection for an engine, but is particularly applicable to other installations. wherever discharge of a liquid may be employed.

As previously stated, one result of the injection by electrical discharge in. a liquid fuel is the cracking of the. fuel. If the, fuel is gasoline, the.

gaseous products along with the liquid products are injected in the engine. Both liquid and gaseous products may have higher octane rating, because the residue formed as the result of the cracking is carbon. Thus it is clear that the V gasoline resulting from the cracking has had some of its carbon removed and, in effect, its hydrogen increased. This may mean a higher octane rating. With the cracking and injecting of the fuel carried on together, there is no substantial loss of gaseous products normally resultin from cracking.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modified form of electrical discharge unit I82, comprising a threaded ring I02 containing a mass of insulating material I9 5. In the insulating mass is positioned an outer electrode I in the-form of a ring having an extension Ififi, to which the conductor I3 is connected. In the ring electrode I05 is an inner electrode It? in the form of a rod having an offset end I08, to which the conductor I2 is connected. A plurality of metallic rod-like members I09 are positioned within the ring electrode I05, being embedded in the insulating mass I04 so as to be insulated from the ring electrode Hi5, from the central electrode I61, and from one another. The unit E92 may be substituted for the unit 6 3 so as to have threaded engagement with the block 54, the projecting ends at the left side of unit I92 of Fig. 5 being within the chamber in the block 54 so as to be in the fuel as it flows through the block 5t. When sufiicient potential is applied across the electrodes Ifl5 and IO'I by the conductors l2 and I3, small discharges occur from the inner electrode I 01 to adjacent interposed rods I 09, then across individualrods I 89, and then from the outer rods N39 to the outer rim, electrode I05, thereby initiating a large discharge between electrodes IIl5and IN. This latter discharge will act as the discharge previously dc scribed as taking place between electrodes 69 in Fig. 1, to raise the pressure of fuel in the block 54 sufficiently to open the valve t3 and thereby to inject fuel into the engine cylinder.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified electrical discharge unit I89, comprising an outer threaded ring IIQ, a mass of insulating material Hi, and two electrodes H2 and H3 havin oifset endsv Ill and M5 to which conductors I2 and '13 are connected, respectively. All these parts are very similar to corresponding parts of the unit 64 of Fig. 3. However, the present unit I09 carries a layer IE6 of semi-conducting material afiixed to the surface of the mass of insulating material I I I between the projecting ends of the electrodes I I2 and H3. The semi-conducting layer H5 may be 7 formed of a finely divided carbon product embedded in the insulating mass III when in a softened condition from heating by a pounding process or the like. Penetration to a mixed layer depth as desired may thus be achieved wherebi the working-surface parts can withstand pitting and other evidences of sustained operation without requiring frequent attention or re-surfacing. Within the broader aspects of the invention, the insulating mass III may alternatively be a phenolic fibre board and the semi-conducting layer I It may be formed of an appropriate metal sprayed on the board. In another form, the insulatin mass III may be quartz, and the semiconducting layer I I6 may be tungsten applied on the quartz in small particles by a so-called evaporation process, involving placing the quartz near a tungsten wire in a high vacuum and applying a high heating current to the tungsten wire. The unit I09 is threaded into the block 54 in place of the unit 64, the projecting ends of the electrodes H2 and I I3 and the semi-conducting layer H6 being within the block 54 and in the liquid fuel flowing therethrough.

When an appropriate electric potential is applied across the electrodes H2 and H3 by the conductors l2 and 13, there are small electrical discharges from the electrode II2 to an adjacent point on the semi-conducting layer H6, then from one point on the semi-conducting layer i I6 to another and so on, and finally to the other electrode II3. This facilitates the creation of a large electrical discharge between electrodes, which increases the pressure of the liquid fuel in the block 54 sufiiciently to open the valve 43 and thereby to inject fuel into the engine cylinder.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a modified electrical discharge unit I H, which represents a combination of the unit I02 of Figs. 4 and 5 and the unit I09 of Figs. 6 and 7. The unit III comprises a threaded ring H8, a mass of insulating material I I9, an outer ring electrode I26 having an extension I2I to which the conductor I2 is connected, a central rod electrode I22 having an ofiset end I23 to which the conductor I3 is connected, and a semi-conducting layer I24 applied to the surface of the insulating mass II9 between the projecting ends of the outer ring electrode I20 and the inner rod electrode I22. The semi-conducting layer I24 may be applied to the insulating mass H9 in the same way that the semi-conducting layer II6 of the unit I09 of Figs. 6 and '7 is applied to the insulating mass III. The unit II! is adapted to replace the unit 64, the ring H8 having threaded engagement with the block 54, the projecting ends of the electrodes I20 and I22 and the semi-conducting layer I24 being wtihin the block 54 and in the liquid fuel passing therethrough.

When an appropriate electric potential is applied across the electrodes I20 and I22 by the conductors l2 and 13, there are small electrical discharges, for example, from the inner rod electrode I22 to an adjacent point on the semi-conducting layer !24, then across successive points of the semi-conducting layer I24, and finally from an outer point on the layer I24 to the outer ring electrode I20. This action facilitates a large electrical discharge between electrodes I2 and, I22, which increases the pressure of the liquid fuel in the block 54 sufliciently to open the valve 43 and thereby to inject fuel into the engine cylinder.

The advantage in the use of outer ring electrodes and inner rod electrodes in the unit I02 of Figs. 4 and 5 and the unit II! of Figs. 8 and 9 is that, no matter in which direction small discharges start from the inner electrode across the semi-conducting layer I24 or the spaced rod inserts I09, the outer ring electrode will be reached.

Fig. 10 shows an electrical system for use with the sets of electrodes 68 and 69 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 or the alternative devices of Figs. 4-9, inclusive, which differs from that of Fig. 2 in that the rectifiers I8 of Fig. 2 are eliminated. Thus for each set of electrodes the conductor I2 connected to one electrode is connected directly to the conductor 81, impedance 88, and connection point 89, rather than by way of the rectifier 18. Otherwise, the electrical system of Fig. 10 is the same as that of Fig. 2, as the use of the same numerals to designate like parts indicates.

The intention is to limit the invention only within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for discharging liquid from a chamber into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus including a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a plurality of electrodes provided with relatively diverging electrode terminals and having each an end projecting through and held by the insulating mass such as to dip into the liquid in spaced relation to any other electrode end, and conductor means embedded in the mass of insulating material and exposed to the liquid between the electrodes and in spaced relation thereto.

2. Apparatus for discharging liquid from a chamber into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus including a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a plurality of electrodes provided with relatively diverging electrode terminals and having each an end projecting internally through and held by the insulating mass such as to dip into the liquid in spaced relation to any other electrode end, a condenser having a continuously charging source of electric potential and a switch between the condenser and electrodes closable to apply a difference in potential across the latter, and means for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes in the liquid, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of conductive inserts embedded in the mass of insulative material and exposed to the liquid between the electrodes and in spaced relation to one another and to the electrodes and between them.

3. Apparatus for discharging from a chamber a liquid not readily ionizable into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus including a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a plurality of electrodes provided with relatively diverging electrode terminals and having each an end projecting internally through and held by the insulating mass such as to dip into the liquid in spaced relation to any other electrode end. a condenser having a continuously charging source of electric potential and an interconnecting switch between the condenser and electrodes closable to apply a difference in potential across the latter, and means for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes in the liquid, said last mentioned means comprising a layer of semi-conducting, particles impregnated in and below the ,9 face layer of the insulating mass and exposed to the liquid.

4. Apparatus for discharging liquid from a chamber into-the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus including a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a plurality of electrodes provided with relatively diverging electrode terminals and having each an end projecting internally through and held by the insulating mass such as to dip into the liquid in spaced relation to any other electrode'end, a condenser having a continuously charging source of electric potential and circuit means including a switch'between the condenser and electrodes closable to apply a difference in potential across the latter, andmeans for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes in the liquid, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of conductive plates inserted in the insulating mass and insulated from one another and from the electrodes and protruding therefrom in spaced relation to one another and to the electrodes and between them.

5. Apparatus for discharging liquid from a chamber into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus including a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a plurality of electrodes provided with relatively diverging electrode terminals and having each an end projecting internally through and held by the insulating mass such as to dip into the liquid in spaced relation to any other electrode end, a condenser having a continuously charging source of electric potential and a connecting switch between the condenser and electrodes closable to apply a difference in potential across the latter, and means for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes in the liquid, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of parallel rod-like conductors interposed substantially coextensively between the electrodes in spaced relation to one another and to the electrodes, said conductors having each a substantial portion thereof insulated mutually and from said electrodes, and a minor portion thereof exposed mutually and to said electrodes, the minor portions aforesaid dipping into the liquid in the manner of said electrode ends.

6. Apparatus for discharging from a chamber a liquid not readily ionizable including, in combination, an electrical discharge unit comprising a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a pair of electrodes provided with diverging energizing terminals and spaced parallel plate porticnsgenerally embedded in the mass of insulating material and each having an end emerging from the insulating material and dipping into the liquid in spaced relation to the end of any other parallel plate portion, a condenser having a constantly charging source of electric potential for the electrode terminals and having a switch in series therebetween closable to make available a difference in electrical potential from the source across the electrodes, and semi-conducting means cf a substance containing randomly spaced crystalline particles generally embedded in the insulating mass and being partially exposed at the surface thereof to the liquid between ends of the parallel plate portions of the electrodes, for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge in the liquid between the electrodes through a series of electrical discharges taking place between each 10 electrode and the semi-conducting means and "between points representing crystalline particles of the semi-conducting means spaced apart les than the electrodes.

7. Apparatus for discharging liquid from a chamber, including an electrical discharge unit comprising a massof insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, an inner electrode having an energizing terminal and an end extending through the mass of insulating material and dipping into the liquid, an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode and having an energizing terminal at relatively divergent angles to the first energizing terminal and an end extending through the mass of insulating material and dipping into the liquid in spaced parallel relation to the inner electrode end, a condenser having a source of electrode'potential under constant charge and having a switch in series therewith closable to subject the electrodes to a potential difiference, and conductive means atleastpartially embedded in said mass of insulating material in surrounding relation to the inner electrode and in surrounded relation by the outer electrode, said conductive means being exposed to the liquid and .to the electrodes and defining conducting points intermediate the electrode ends for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes through ,a series of electrical discharges taking place between each electrode and said interposed means, and between conducting points of said interposed means spaced apartless than the electrodes.

8. Apparatus for discharging liquid from a chamber, comprising a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a first electrode having an energizing terminal and an end extending through the mass of insulating material and dipping into the liquid, a second electrode having an energizing terminal at relatively divergent angles to the first energizing terminal and an end extending through the mass of insulating mate rial and dipping into the liquid in spaced parallel relation to the first electrode end, a condenser under constant charge and having a switch in series therewith closable to subject the electrodes to a potential difference, and a plurality of parallel plate conductive means at least partially embedded in said mass of insulating material, said parallel plate conductive means having ends exposed to the liquid and to the electrodes and defining transverse conducting strips intermediate the electrode ends for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes through a series of electrical discharges taking place between each electrode and the strips formed by said interposed means, and between conducting strips of said interposed means spaced apart less than the electrodes.

9. Apparatus for discharging from a chamber a liquid not readily ionizable including, in combination, a mass of insulating material forming a wall of the chamber, a pair of electrodes provided with diverging energizing terminals and spaced parallel plate portions generally embedded in the mass of insulating material and each having an end emerging from the insulating material and dippin into the liquid in spaced relation to the end of any other parallel plate portion, a condenser having a constantly charging source of electric potential for the electrode terminals and having a switch in series therebetween closable to make available a difference in electrical potential from the source across the electrodes, and a plurality of intervening conductor elements in the mass between the electrodes comprising spaced parallel plate portions extending coextensively with the electrode parallel plate portions and having each an end emerging from the mass dipping into the liquid, for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge in the liquid between electrodes through a series of electrical discharges taking place between each electrode and the intervening elements and between the intervening elements spaced apart less than the electrodes.

10. In a device of the character described, a spark discharge unit comprising a chamber-wall forming portion of insulating material adapted to be impervious to and confine liquid at one side thereof, a set of strip-like main electrodes provided with relatively diverging electrode terminals and each having a substantial portion thereof projecting internally through and held by the insulating material so as to protrude in part from the said one side thereof and dip into the liquid, the electrodes being in parallel spaced relation within the material to one another at all points and being energizable to difierent electrical potentials, and means for causing the diflerence of electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes in the liquid, the just-named means comprising a plurality of metallic plates embedded in the insulating material in parallel spaced relation to one another and to each main electrode and having a minor portion thereof protruding from said one side of the 12 material so as to dip into the liquid in the manner of the main electrodes.

11. In a device of the character described, a spark discharge unit comprising a chamber-wall forming portion of insulating material adapted to be impervious to and confine a contained liq uid at one side thereof, a concentric set of main electrodes provided with relatively diverging electrode terminals and each having a substantial portion thereof projecting internally through and held by the insulating material so as to protrude in part from the said one side thereof and dip into the liquid, the electrodes being in parallel spaced relation within the material to one another at all points and being energizable to different electrical potentials, and means for causing the difference in electric potential to create an electrical discharge between the electrodes in the liquid, the just-named means comprising a plurality of metallic rods embedded in the insulating material in parallel spaced relation to one another and to each main electrode and having a minor portion thereof protruding from said one side of the material so as to dip into the liquid in the manner of the main electrodes.

JOHN R. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the V file'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,333,612 Fisher Mar. 16, 1920 2,436,090 Bodine Feb. 17, 1948 

